Oil Spills In Cilacap Donan River, Serok Residents Use Scoops To Clean Boats

Buckets and jerry cans filled with oil were collected by residents from the Donan River area in Cilacap Regency, Central Java, Tuesday (28/6/2022). (ANTARA/Sumarwoto)

CENTRAL JAVA - Hundreds of residents and fishermen work together to clean up an oil spill in the Donan River, which borders Nusakambangan Island and the mainland of Cilacap Regency in Central Java Province.

Some of them collected the oil spilled on the banks of the Donan River using a scoop and put it in a bucket.

There are also those who use boats to collect oil spills in the middle of the strait, especially at the entrance to Tanjung Intan Harbor between Sentolo Kawat Pier and Batre Pier.

Satiman, a resident of Tambakreja Village, participated in cleaning up oil spills in the river area which he feared would have a negative impact on the aquatic ecosystem.

"We and other residents are trying to collect the oil spill... Later the oil that has been collected will be taken by Pertamina," said Satiman.

Meanwhile, the Chair of the All-Indonesian Fishermen's Association (HNSI) of Cilacap Regency, Sarjono, hopes for a response from the parties responsible for the oil spill in the river area.

"Perhaps from Pertamina. However, I can see that from this morning (Pertamina) held a meeting and we hope that after it is finished, we can immediately resolve this problem, especially for fishermen who have helped clean up the waters from this oil spill," he said.

He said that the fisherman noticed an oil spill in the Donan River area on Monday, June 27, at 17.30 WIB, and at 19.00 WIB, there was a strong smell in the river area.

"This morning there was a wind from east to west, so a lot of (oil spill) collected in the Donan River around the Wijayapura Pier or Batre Pier," he said.

Sarjono said that based on reports from fishermen, the oil spill in the Donan River was suspected to have come from a tanker located in Area 70 Teluk Turtle Beach, the mouth of the Donan River.

"However, for certainty, it is Pertamina who can explain. We are only monitoring in the field so that fishermen remain conducive and patiently waiting for Pertamina's decision later," said Sarjono.

As of Tuesday at 13.15 WIB, there has been no official statement from PT Pertamina (Persero), particularly PT Pertamina International Refinery (KPI) RU IV Cilacap, regarding the oil spill in the Donan River.

However, Pertamina has dispatched a team to deal with the oil spill, including deploying a tank car to accommodate the oil spill that has been collected by residents.